PRESENTATION

Happy Saturday – ECLIPSE AWARDS handed out tonight in Florida, should be a big night for our hero, AMERICAN PHAROAH; SUNSHINE MILLIONS today in Florida, hope it is not a sea of slop as it was on Friday – but hey, trainer MARK FROSTAD is not complaining, he had an 11 to 1 winner yesterday – Ontario bred SCORCH!

ONTARIO BRED 4yo SCORCH loves the slop at Gulfstream, big win an 11-1 for trainer Mark Frostad – GULFSTREAM PHOTO

Trainer MARK FROSTAD (far right) celebrates in the rain with SCORCH, an Ontario bred owned by George Strawbridge. Assistant trainer SARAH RITCHIE (far left) stands with groom, Conspicuous by his absence, co-trainer GATOR KITTEN.

SUNSHINE MILLIONS AT GULFSTREAM TODAY

It might be sunny at Gulfstream Park today and that would be a nice change from the deluge that occurred yesterday (and is expected for Sunday).
Still, the turf course is likely to be yielding to soft.

Canadian owned and trained REPORTING STAR loves off turf and is in the Sunshine Millions Turf – preview below from Gulfstream media
Fundamental will attempt to continue his upward ascent when he faces 11 Florida-breds in the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Turf at 1 1/16 miles Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Trained by Chad Brown on behalf of owners Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence, the son of Arch added blinkers prior to scoring in a Saratoga allowance in August. After finishing second in the $400,000 Commonwealth Derby (G2) at Laurel Park, he finishing a close fifth in the $100,000 Bryan Station Stakes at Keeneland in October, and most recently ran fourth, beaten just a length, in the $300,000 Hollywood Derby (G1) at Del Mar on November 28.

“He had a bit of trouble that day, but I think he’s a nice horse,” Brown said. “He’s been training very well. The distance might be a bit short for him, but it’s worth taking a shot for the money. He doesn’t have much early speed so he’ll have to run late.”

Fundamental, bred by Glen Hill Farm and sold as a yearling for $225,000, has drawn post two and will have the services of jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.

Veteran campaigner Old Time Hockey first contested the Sunshine Millions Turf in 2014, when he finished second by a head. Now seven, the Glen Hill Farm homebred is coming into this year’s renewal on the strength of two straight victories, a 19-length romp in an allowance at Parx Racing on September 13 and a determined score in the Sunshine Millions Turf Preview at Gulfstream Park West on November 7. The son of Smarty Jones, who has earned over $550,000 during his career, will break from post eight and will be ridden by Ronald Allen Jr.

Manchurian High is set to defend his title in the Sunshine Millions Turf. Owned and trained by Lilli Kurtinecz, the chestnut gelding was given some time off following an allowance victory at Keeneland on October 2, and returned to run sixth in the $100,000 W.L. McKnight Handicap over 12 furlongs on the Gulfstream grass on December 26. The 8-year-old will break from the six hole with jockey Luis Saez in the irons.

The Sunshine Millions Turf field is completed by Rizwan, Cement Clement, My Point Exactly, Firespike, Amigo, Gourmet Delight, Reporting Star and Prince Vincenzo.

CANADIANS ELSEWHERE

SCORCH was a big winner at Gulfstream on Friday for trainer MARK FROSTAD and owner George Strawbridge. The Ontario bred colt by Candy Ride )Arg_ out of fast stakes winner Nashinda by Silver Deputy, loved the slop and won an allowance race by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:43.75

The 88 Beyer Speed Figure he earned matched his previous top from when he was 4th in the Prince of Wales Stakes to Breaking Lucky.
Scorch last raced in late November when he won his maiden at 7 furlongs on Polytrack at Woodbine.
SWEETWATER, a 3-year-old filly by Twirling Candu bredin Florida, won her maiden in the first race at GUlfstream on Friday for the partnershiper of Jeff Begg, Mike Ambler and Gary Barber. This is the same group that won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly Turf with Catch a Glimpse.
SWEETWATER was one of three yearlings purchased by Begg two years ago. She relished the slop at rainy Gulfstream and won at even-money and was claimed by Joe Saffie and Alter’s Racing.
Mark Casse was the trainer.
NIIGON’S EDGE, a Queen’s Plate hopeful for Chiefs wood Stable, finished an even 4th in a 7 furlong sprint at GUlfstream on Friday in the slop. The son of Niigon was 5th in the Coronation Futurity with a 70 Beyer Figure.
He posted a 67 on Friday when 8 lengths behind the much-touted ZULU, a Bernardini colt from the Todd Pletcher stable.

EL CEEBEO, an Ontario bred by Milwaukee Brew, bred by Rick Pettifer and now owned by M-Z Partnesrhip, won a starter allowance at Laurel Park on Friday at 1 mile on the dirt, 1:38.88.

BEN WALLACE ON NEWSTALK 1010

Classy Lane folks on road to rebuild

Owner and trainer BEN WALLACE, who lost 17 horses in the tragic Classy Lane Stable fire almost 2 weeks ago, was on the Paul abd Carol Mott show on NewsTalk1010 Saturday morning.
Wallace said that since the frantic, emotional time of the fire has now moved into weeks later, it is the tough time for horsepeople to re-build.

“It’s a slow process,” said Wallace to the Motts. “The dark days are here now, trying to pick up the pieces.”

Wallace said the fire was not likely started by a space heater but due to an electrical issue although, as he added, the training centre is a very state-of the-art operation.

The support for the three breeds of racehorses in Ontario, Standardbred, Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse has been remarkable and certainly helpful to those who lost their equine friends. A stallion season auction is currently being held to raise money for the horsepeople involved and almost $250,000 has been raised through a GoFundme page.

One thing is certain, the horses are in the thoughts of everyone in this industry every day and industry members want to try and do anything possible to get people like Wallace back into doing what he loves to do.

KEENELAND SALE WRAPS UP

Cumulatively, Keeneland has sold 843 horses for $33,672,900, down 4.62 percent from $35,305,500 for 948 horses for the entire sale last year. The average of $39,944 rose 7.26 percent from $37,242 in 2015. The median of $15,000 is just off the last year’s $16,000.

Canadian buyers continued to do business:

SHANNONDOE FARM, which recently added Conquest Curlinate to its stallion roster (it has leading freshman sire of 2015, Society’s Chairman) bought a Medaglia d’Oro mare out of a stakes placed hald sister to the dam of Grade 2 stakes winner and Grade 1 producer YEARLY REPORT.
Suzenshine is in foal to Trappe Shot and cost $9,000.

Shannondoe, owned by James and Janeane Everatt and Arika Everatt-Meeuse, also bought A SPECIAL TOAST, a Glitterman mare, for $1,200.

Beth Hancock, agent – Big Bambu, mare by Salt Lake, 19 -years-old in foal to Colonel John, $2,000;

Bay filly – Silent Name bred in Indiana $7,500
Dark bay colt – by Silent Name, $4,500

K-S STABLE bought a 3-year-old colt by Orientate as a racing or stallion prospect for $50,000. K-5 is Phil Kives in Manitoba. The colt, PRIMARY FACTOR is impeccably bred as his 2nd dam, Dokki, produced Grade 1 winners APTITUDE and SLEEP EASY and the 3rd dam is the wonderful mare ALLUVIAL (Slew o Gold and Coastal).

R J BENNETT from British Columbia bought a stallion prospect in BAKKEN, a 6-year-old by Distorted Humor out of General Jeanne by Honour and Glory.
Bakken was 2nd in the Grade 2 True North Stakes as a 4-year-old, earned $224,900, Bakken is a half brother to Grade 2 winner JUSTWHISTLEDIXIE, the dam of Breeders’ up Juvenile winner NEW YEAR’S DAY and this year’s exciting Kentucky Derby prospect MOHAYMEN.

CAM ZIPRICK bought an Ontario bred by Wilburn (Bernardini) out of For Gillian by Gold Fever for $4,200
CAL BRITTON paid $3,000 for a short yearling by Majestic Warrior our of Storm Prospect

DOMINION BLOODSTOCK paid $9,000 for the racing or broodmare prospect WEALTHY SHIPMAN, a 4-year-old by Midshipman from the stakes winning Regal Classic mare Wealthy.
Dave Cotey’s Dominion Bloodstock raced 2015 stakes winner Her Majesty’s Flag, also by Midshipman.

DOMINIC DILALLA paid $4,500 for an Ontario bred filly by Muskeiter (Ger), whose first crop race in2016, out of the Lion Heart mare Zelkova.

PEACE OFFERING, a bay gelding, 5-years-old, was sold to Shelley Brown for $6,500. He is a 3-time winner by Giant’s Causeway.

GLOBAL EQUINE SETS UP SHOP AT KELYNACK

http://www.globalequineltd.com/

In advance of a feature story on SAUL MCHUGH, here are a couple of images from a trip to his training facility, operated out of Kelynack Farm in Milton, Ontario.

McHugh will have 8 sets of 8 training on the immaculate dirt track at Kelynack shortly as horses prepare for the beginning of the Woodbine season.

McHugh also has a rehab barn for horses returning from layoffs, newly turned 2yos, yearlings and mares.

Check for our feature on McHugh and Global Equine soon at www.canadianthoroughbred.com.

Below is one of North America’s winningest horses of 2015 – SOLO PLAYER, now a 7-year-old, won 5 of 11 races in 2015. He is a son of Cuvee and a friendly fellow.